Wow what a week at E3.  This all reinforces just how exciting working in this industry is.  Technology has always moved at a rapid pace in gaming and things look likely to take another huge step forward.

Perhaps the biggest buzz of the week has been surrounding Microsoft’s announcement of Project Natal.  Project Natal is a fully hands-free control system that will use face recognition and motion sensors to allow users to play games.  Exciting eh?

If you missed the Microsoft announcement video, the superb Gametrailers site is streaming it…watch the embedded video below.

To understand this concept more, the BBC News’ Daniel Emery, Technology reporter, carried an interview with Microsoft’s Don Mattrick and legendary Film Director, Steven Spielberg.

As you can see from the above, Project Natal stands to have a revolutionary effect on gaming.

Be great to hear your views.  Does this excite you?  How could you see it being used?  What sort of games would rock using this tech?  What EA games would you like to see utilising Natal?

And can we finally be at the point when ‘emotionally’ believable characters are nearly reality.  Peter Molyneux certainly thinks so.  Take a final look at this video, again taken from the BBC, that shows Milo, a character devised by Peter Molyneux’s creatives at Lionhead studio.

Let me know.  Wow, these are just such exciting times.

EArl

Steven Spielberg and Louis Castle: The men behind Boom Blox

Hey, just finished listening to an interview with Steven Spielberg on the Guardian Newspaper’s site.  This interview is part of Alex Krotoski’s excellent Tech Weekly column. 

Spielberg discusses his love for gaming, development of Boom Blox Bash and his views for the future of gaming.  He predicts that gaming consoles will be replaced in the years to come and we will play games directly through our tv.  Take a listen to this fascinating man on :  http://tinyurl.com/r9z684

EArl loves this whole discussion on the future of gaming.  Spielberg discusses 3D Gaming and Virtual Reality….others have pointed to neural gaming.  As gamers, how would you like to see the games industry evolve in the future? 

One thing is certain, gaming has come a long long way from the days of PONG & Space Invaders.  This involves not just huge graphical advancements but the way gamers are immersed into worlds and stories.  Who would have imagined games like Dead Space 20 years ago?  What will games look like in another 20 years?….you tell EArl…

© 2009 Electronic Arts Inc. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

EArl is getting excited about the pending launch of Boom Blox Bash Party, Steven Spielberg’s sequel to the critically acclaimed Boom Blox.  Just love playing this game with all my family and beating my dad EAmonn and sister lEAh.

Ellie Gibson, a highly talented journalist for the Eurogamer site reviewed the game today and gave it 9/10. 

Ellie concludes in her review:  ‘As sequels go, Boom Blox: Bash Party is one of the best. There aren’t just more levels, there are more different types of levels. The new blocks and toys are inventive and intuitive to use. Criticisms of the level editor, the online options and even the shooting galleries have been listened to, and significant improvements have been made. Best of all, there hasn’t been too much mucking about with the brilliant gameplay mechanics and superb physics that made the original Boom Blox so much fun.  If you’re one of those people whose little white box is gathering dust in the corner, don’t put it on eBay. Pick up a copy of Boom Blox: Bash Party and remind yourself why you bought a Wii in the first place, and why games don’t have to be about guns and cars to be good’.

Thanks Ellie…glad you like it.  To read the full Eurogamer review click here:  http://tinyurl.com/qyaxfk

In the meantime take a look at the new TV Commercial.

© 2009 Electronic Arts Inc. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.